Chapter 5 - THE WOMAN THEY CHOSE AS BAIT
Elias's investigators uncovered a disturbing pattern.
Someone had altered Avery's shift assignment before the gala.
She had originally been scheduled to work the west dining room.
Instead, her supervisor received instructions moving her to the ballroom service team.
Then she was sent downstairs to retrieve missing champagne flutes.
The request had been entered under a manager's credentials.
But the manager denied making it.
Avery stared at the report.
“They wanted me downstairs.”
Elias nodded.
“Possibly.”
“Why?”
He hesitated.
Avery's eyes narrowed.
“Tell me.”
Elias looked at her.
“Your younger sister.”
Avery went still.
“What about her?”
“What's her name?”
“June.”
“Does she work at the city archives?”
Avery stared.
“Yes.”
Elias leaned back.
“Crowe's people accessed records involving June Sloan several weeks ago.”
Avery's blood ran cold.
“Why?”
“We don't know yet.”
She stood.
“I need to call her.”
Elias nodded.
“Do it.”
June answered on the second ring.
“Avery?”
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah. Why?”
Avery closed her eyes.
“Where are you?”
“At home.”
“Lock your doors.”
June laughed nervously.
“What's going on?”
Avery swallowed.
“Someone may have been looking into you.”
Silence.
Then June whispered, “Avery, I need to tell you something.”
Avery went still.
“What?”
“Two weeks ago, a man came to the archives asking about old waterfront property records.”
Avery looked at Elias.
June continued.
“He wanted files connected to Kincaid Maritime.”
Elias's expression changed.
Avery swallowed.
“Did you give them to him?”
“No. They were restricted.”
“Then what happened?”
June hesitated.
“He offered me money.”
Avery closed her eyes.
“How much?”
“Fifty thousand dollars.”
Avery stared.
“For what?”
June's voice trembled.
“To make a copy of one document.”
Elias took the phone.
“June, this is Elias Kincaid.”
Silence.
Then June whispered, “Oh, God.”
Elias remained calm.
“You're not in trouble. But I need you to tell us what document he wanted.”
June swallowed.
“A property transfer from nineteen years ago.”
Elias went still.
“Which property?”
June answered.
“The old North Pier freight terminal.”
Elias slowly lowered the phone.
Gabriel looked at him.
“What?”
May you like
Elias stared at Avery.
Then whispered, “That's where my father died.”
